SAFETY LEADERSHIP
CONFERENCE

NOVEMBER 6, 2025

The Construction Association of Michigan (CAM) has teamed up with the Greater Detroit Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) to provide a one-day conference specifically designed for leaders with a responsibility for employee safety. Company owners, top executives, safety managers, and human resource personnel will all find value in the diverse range of topics available. This world-class collection of qualified presenters offers the best talent this area has ever seen.

The event takes place on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at Macomb Community College South Campus in the John Lewis Conference Center.

Creating an Effective Safety Vision

A strong, lasting safety culture starts with a clear, inspiring vision. Without it, a safety transformation is like tackling a 1,000-piece puzzle without the picture — you can’t plan if you don’t know where you’re headed.“Zero injuries” isn’t a vision — it’s a metric. And focusing on numbers over people sends the wrong message. A true safety vision should ignite purpose, not just set targets. Join us to learn how to craft a compelling safety vision — one that motivates, aligns, and transforms. Hear real-world examples of unionized plants that went from near-OSHA violations to safety and profit powerhouses by starting with the right vision.

Buried Hazards: How to Respond to Unexpected Discoveries During Excavation

Excavation work can quickly turn dangerous—or costly—when unexpected materials are uncovered. Whether it’s buried diesel drums or pockets of methane gas, knowing how to respond can protect workers, the public, the environment, and your company’s reputation. This one-hour advanced session will focus on two case studies and real-world response strategies when oil, hazardous materials, or dangerous gases are discovered mid-dig. This workshop will walk through best practices for incident response, escalation, remediation, and legal compliance.

Creating Psychological Safety: Principles and Tools That Work

Helping leaders who are general contractors, subcontractors, equipment and material suppliers, architects, engineers, and service providers create psychological safety that is critical to improving employee well-being and business outcomes. Calling yourself a leader is easy. It’s leading in ways others feel included, can take risks, and speak up without fear that it is hard. Learn the common barriers, proven principles, and simple tools that busy leaders and professionals can successfully apply to create psychological safety.

Effective Workers’ Compensation Claims Management & Return-to-Work Strategies

Managing workers’ compensation claims efficiently and implementing effective return-to-work (RTW) programs are critical to reducing costs, improving employee morale, and ensuring regulatory compliance. This practical, one-hour session is designed for safety professionals, HR staff, supervisors, and managers responsible for overseeing workplace injury cases and employee reintegration. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the claims process, learn how to partner with medical providers and insurance carriers, and explore strategies for facilitating timely, safe return-to-work plans that benefit both employees and employers.

Improve Safety Performance Through Relevant, Meaningful and Impactful Leading Indicators

What sets top safety cultures apart? Mastery of leading and lagging safety indicators. These indicators reveal risks, highlight opportunities, and guide action before harm, non-compliance, or reputation damage occurs. Leading indicators show what to improve; lagging indicators measure the impact. Used wisely, they boost both safety and profitability. Generic indicators won’t cut it — every company is different. Join us to learn how one unionized plant used tailored indicators to go from near OSHA violations to a model of safety and performance. Gain proven tools to drive your own transformation.

Pre-Task Planning: A Roadmap to Safety

This workshop provides a structured approach to Pre-Task Planning (PTP), emphasizing compliance with OSHA requirements and alignment with industry best practices. Participants will explore the essential components of effective PTP, including hazard identification, risk assessment, mitigation strategies, and worker engagement. By the end of the workshop, attendees will be better prepared to enhance jobsite safety, strengthen compliance practices, and foster a proactive safety culture.

Situational Awareness, Victim Avoidance and Verbal De-Escalation

Construction and field workers may work in unpredictable community environments where they may be approached by frustrated, aggressive, criminal or unstable individuals. This program provides training in Situational Awareness and Verbal Diffusion techniques to help workers recognize risks, identify potential aggressors, anticipate threats, and use communication skills to de-escalate confrontations while maintaining personal safety.

MIOSHA Essentials: Resources, Grants, and Programs for Safer Workplaces

During this session, attendees will gain valuable insights into how MIOSHA can support their organization's safety and health initiatives. Join us as we explore Consultation, Education, and Training (CET) Services, grant funding opportunities, MIOSHA Training Institute and available scholarships, the Voluntary Protection Program, and more. By attending this workshop, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of MIOSHA's services and how to leverage them to create safer, healthier work environments.

Prevention of Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIFs) and S##t That Could Kill You (STCKY)

Not all injuries are created equal. Some incidents have the potential to change lives forever — or end them. This eye-opening workshop tackles the prevention of Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIFs) and what we call S##t That Could Kill You (STCKY)*.Through engaging discussions and real-world insights, participants will explore why SIFs and STCKY deserve special attention, how they often hide in plain sight, and what cultural “trances” can blind organizations to the risks. You’ll learn why energy is your real enemy, how to recognize high-risk scenarios, and — most importantly — what practical steps you can take to prevent the worst from happening.

Hard Hats & Heavy Decisions: The Difference Between Supervisors and Leaders

Every jobsite has supervisors — but not every supervisor is a leader. In this fast-paced, no-nonsense session, we’ll break down the critical differences between managing tasks and leading people. With real construction examples, interactive discussion, and practical takeaways, this presentation gives supervisors the tools to inspire crews, earn respect, and drive safer, more productive jobsites. Get ready for a high-energy look at leadership that sticks long after the hard hats come off.

Building a Safety Program from the Ground Up

Starting a safety program can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. This practical, no-jargon session is designed for small businesses, contractors, and newer safety professionals who are ready to take the first steps toward creating a workplace safety program that supports compliance, protects workers, and reduces workers' compensation risk. We’ll break down the basics: what safety documentation should be in place, what practices help create a culture of safety, and what red flags are commonly spotted during a workers' comp risk audit. Whether you're just getting started or looking to tighten up your program, this session will help you understand what insurers and auditors want to see—and how to build toward that, one step at a time.

Beyond Compliance: Building a Culture of Care and Safety

There is no doubt that the outcomes of safety protocols are reflected in the overall physical, psychological and emotional well-being of your employees and those that you serve. And yet, safety is so much more than making sure that your employees comply with your standards and expectations.In this seminar we will explore the importance of being “our brother and sisters keeper” while creating a culture of authentic care, concern and overall well being of all of those who are a part of your organization. Utilizing principles of social/emotional intelligence, including empathy, healthy communication and interpersonal skills we will help participants envision a culture that reaches beyond hard hats and safety vests.

Incident Investigation Documentation: Best Practices and Legal Implications

Accurate and thorough documentation is vital during incident investigations—but what happens to those notes if OSHA knocks on the door? Safety professionals must understand not only how to record observations and findings effectively but also how their documentation may be discoverable in compliance investigations and legal proceedings. This session covers best practices for documenting incident investigations, including what information to capture, how to maintain objectivity, and how to safeguard records. Attendees will also learn about the attorney-client privilege, discovery processes, and how documentation can impact regulatory investigations and legal outcomes.

Talks Saves Lives: Suicide Prevention

The construction industry faces one of the highest suicide rates of any profession, making awareness and prevention efforts critically important. Talk Saves Lives: Construction is the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) construction-specific adaptation of its flagship suicide prevention program. This evidence-based training provides participants with a clear understanding of the scope of suicide in the U.S. and within the construction industry, while offering practical strategies for prevention. Whether you are a leader, supervisor, or frontline worker, Talk Saves Lives: Construction provides vital knowledge and tools to foster a safer, healthier workplace culture.

Stronger Leadership, Safer Workplaces

Safety isn’t just about rules and compliance—it starts with leadership. This interactive workshop explores how strong organizational leadership and cohesive teams directly influence workplace safety outcomes. Participants will learn practical strategies to build trust, drive accountability, and foster a culture where safety is not an obligation, but a shared value. Leaders will walk away with actionable tools to strengthen communication, improve engagement, and create safer, more resilient workplaces.

Advancing Your Career Through Effective Communication

Ready to take your career to the next level? This workshop is designed for emerging professionals who want to master the art of effective communication to enhance safety culture, training, impactful incident investigation, and more. You'll learn how to confidently engage with leadership and field personnel, respond to challenging situations with tact, and build trust across different teams. Come discover how focusing on your soft skills can make a significant impact on your professional growth. This session is suitable for anyone who has recently been assigned safety responsibilities and/or anyone who is focusing on their soft skill development.

Conference Details

Attend up to 4 workshops throughout the day
Earn up recertification credits for professional designations
Network with industry professionals
Access to world-class presenters and exhibitors
Includes breakfast & lunch

Registration Fee

$250 per person
Register by September 25th for just $199!
Registration deadline is October 29th

Continuing Education Credit

This program is valid for CEUs/recertification points. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit https://www.bcsp.org/recertification/

CEU Info

SAFETY LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

NOVEMBER 6, 2025

All experts, all in one place

Creating an Effective Safety Vision

Buried Hazards: How to Respond to Unexpected Discoveries During Excavation

Creating Psychological Safety: Principles and Tools That Work

Effective Workers’ Compensation Claims Management & Return-to-Work Strategies

Improve Safety Performance Through Relevant, Meaningful and Impactful Leading Indicators

Pre-Task Planning: A Roadmap to Safety

Situational Awareness, Victim Avoidance and Verbal De-Escalation

MIOSHA Essentials: Resources, Grants, and Programs for Safer Workplaces

Prevention of Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIFs) and S##t That Could Kill You (STCKY)

Hard Hats & Heavy Decisions: The Difference Between Supervisors and Leaders

Building a Safety Program from the Ground Up

Beyond Compliance: Building a Culture of Care and Safety

Incident Investigation Documentation: Best Practices and Legal Implications

Talks Saves Lives: Suicide Prevention

Stronger Leadership, Safer Workplaces

Advancing Your Career Through Effective Communication

Conference Details

Registration Fee

Continuing Education Credit

Meet our speakers

John Ball

Anthony Casaletta

Dr. Jeff Doolittle

Mike Eckert

Lisa Goyette

Carl Granger

Jason Griffin

Lawrence "Koz" Kosmalski

Jean Ndana

Tracy Nelson

John Ninkovich

Kristin Osterkamp

Ian Perry

Karly St. Aubin

Dominic Vendittelli

Tim Welsh

Dr. Kenneth Wolf

Sponsors

Exhibitors

SAFETY LEADERSHIP
CONFERENCE